STATEMENT BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TURKEY, AMBASSADOR TACAN ILDEM ON THE SECURİTY ZONE INCIDENT 898TH MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL 19 JANUARY 2012

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our support to the international efforts under the “5+2” format which, we hope, will lead to a lasting solution to the conflict within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova. The positive development last December in Vilnius within the settlement process of the conflict, namely the resumption of the official negotiations, gives us hope to reach concrete results during this year and inspire vision for the solution of other protracted conflicts. We look forward to the next official meeting to be held in Dublin in February.

Against this backdrop, the tragic incident in the Security Zone on 1 January 2012, which caused the death of a Moldovan citizen, was most unfortunate. We call on the parties concerned to have a thorough investigation on this incident that we regret, so as not to let such deplorable acts repeat themselves in the future.

We hope that despite this, the positive momentum could be maintained in the settlement process.